Town Square

Tracking down Brad Pitt

Original post made
by Emily West, editor of Danville Express,
on Oct 3, 2010

Sure, a school board meeting or a crime story may have me collecting my reporter's notebook and camera and heading out on the hunt for a story. But when you find out Brad Pitt may be hanging around your area, collecting my gear is done in lightning speed.

This was the case recently, as I headed out to Diablo Country Club and Mangia Mi on Hartz Ave. These were two spots where the very attractive movie star was said to be spotted. On my way, I cursed my choice of bland, casual attire. In journalism school, they told me to blend in with the "man on the street." They don't tell you to dress everyday like you were going to meet Brad Pitt. That will be my motivation from now on, because you just never know.

My first stop was in the pro shop at Diablo Country Club. A young man and young woman were behind the counter when I asked them to set the rumor straight. They denied it, with the young man asking if perhaps he had caused any confusion with their similar features. Nice try, buddy. So as another employee walked in, they asked if he had seen Brad around. His reply was along the lines of, "who told you?" Very suspicious.

Next, I headed to Mangia Mi, the Italian restaurant in downtown Danville. It's situated off of the main street, with a back entrance. That's key for celebrities, if you read those gossip magazines and blogs. Not that I do. Talking with staff in between lunch and dinner service, I left with the same feeling that they were bluffing. "No," she said with a smile. "People have been asking me that a lot." She also said something about not being there when people were thinking he was there. Again, very suspicious.

I had heard he may have been at Hap Magee Ranch Park, but since I was already melting from the insane heat, I figured I would end my hunt turned wild goose chase.

My verdict? He was definitely around here. I can appreciate people wanting to help out with his privacy, but at least try to act surprised when I ask. It seemed like a left field question that would get weird faces instead of smiles and bad jokes. My guess is that he was filming or hanging around with Oakland A's GM Billy Beane, who I believe lives around town, since he's playing him in the movie "Moneyball."

Oh my gosh I would be the luckiest gal in the world to meet Brad Pitt and I will keep my hopes up and plan on continuing to go to my studio in Danville (155C Railroad Ave) in case Brad Pitt might be out on a stroll and wants to stop by and say "Hi!" You could make one very HAPPY Interior Designer! Maybe I should contact "SHAQ" and see if he's got my back!!!